Tactical police arrest man with a handgun

Police tactical units working for the Mercer County violent crime task force seized a handgun and arrested two people Sunday as part of an ongoing initiative to seize guns and arrest violent offenders.

Working under the command of Lt. Leonard Aviles, Detectives Miguel Acosta and Sam Johnson were patrolling the area of Passaic Street and Casper Alley around 4:30 p.m. when the noticed a group of five men in the backyard of a residence in the 200 block of Spring Street. The detectives pulled in front of the residence and walked to the backyard where the group was standing. When they reached the yard, according to police, Christopher Proctor, 18, of Trenton, attempted to discard a .380 Versa handgun, but the gun landed on the pavement and in sight of the officers. Proctor and a juvenile who had a small amount of marijuana were arrested without incident. Proctor was charged with unlawful possession of a weapon and the juvenile was hit with a drug charge. The arrest occurred on the same block where a shooting left four people wounded a week ago.

“There was definitely something going on there,” Sgt. Darren Zappley said. “He may have been arming himself for protection,”

Zappley declined to comment on whether or not Proctor is a gang member or if he was a person of interest in the shooting. The other three men in the group were not charged with anything.